Violence against witches - The National Archives

Transcript

The man I told you of his name was

Pemberton: an active man in several professions, but a papist and

hath been a teacher over of recusant’s children.[Recusant was English Catholic who refused to attend services of the Church of England]

This man, as the general report is, was

cast out of their Synagogue. Where upon he grew melancholy

seeking by all means to be reconciled again to his former state.

And as it is conveyed (for no man can prove their secret

passages) had conference with a priest, who after many

delays should tell him that there was no means for his

reconcilement [forgiveness] but to procure [get hold of] the heart of a heretic.

Whereupon (as it seems) he gave out in speeches that he

would kill this woman for (says he) she is a witch.

After a while being at work near the place, he was willed

to come to supper, which quoth [said] he: “But I will kill the witch

first, whereof the messenger laughed as at a jest.”

So he went to the house to come in, the doors were shut (for they

were jealous [mindful] of his words) he bade open the door, they would not, for

it was tight. Then he took up a mighty stone and at

serious assault broke it down. The women came out

backward to a neighbour’s house. But he fell first upon the

men & with a whittle like a butcher’s knife gave him fifty wounds.

Then he followed the women, but a maid resisting him got five

great wounds and he would have killed her, unless she told him

where the witch was. Whereof she told him under the bed.

He came into the chamber door, pulled her out, cut her throat

so wide it lay upon her bosom. Ripped down her breast

but could not get his hand in for the bone. Then he ripped

her up the belly, thrust in his arm & caught a piece of her

[?] with his knife in one hand and liver in the other. Bragging

openly he had killed the witch, there was her heart. And

now he cared not what became of him.